The country is
democratically ruled, boasts a growing economy and a
stable political environment. Botswana has some of
Africa's last great wildernesses including the famous
Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari desert.
Botswana is the largest exporter of gemstone diamonds in
the world as well as a large beef exporter to the European
Economic Community. The capital is Gabarone with a
population of 195,000. Total population of 1,639,131
In 2001, Botswana had
the highest rate of HIV infection in the world (350,000 of
its 1.6 million people). There are many orphaned children
and a great need for dedicated workers to help turn the
tide of poverty, sickness and death.
Missionaries Rob
and Mary Grindley (See cost
estimate for Cyber System for Botswana)
Sometime early this
year, God led us to meet an American couple Rob and Mary
Grindley. We had them over for lunch and spent several
hours in fellowship. They had been in Botswana for a
few years and had returned to the USA for a sabatical.
They had felt the Lord wanted them to return to Botswana.
The Botswana Government has given them a substantial piece
of land to build an orphanage.
We felt they would be a
great couple to head the Botswana Project. The
vision is to place the first computer and video system and
over the next few years to place about 10 systems across
the country thus being able to reach literally hundreds of
thousands of people at the same time.
More about this ministry
later. ..
Here are some more
interesting facts about Botswana. |
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President: Festus
Mogae (1998) an Oxford-educated economist, who has turned
the economy of the country around.
Current government officials
Land area:
226,012 sq mi (585,371 sq km); total area: 231,803
sq mi (600,370 sq km)
Population (2007
est.): 1,639,131 (growth rate:
0.0%); birth rate: 22.9/1000; infant mortality rate:
53.0/1000; life expectancy: 33.7; density per sq mi: 7
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Gaborone, 195,000
Monetary unit:
Pula
Languages:
English 2% (official), Setswana
78%, Kalanga 8%, Sekgalagadi 3%, other (2001)
Ethnicity/race:
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%,
Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other (including Kgalagadi and
white) 7%
Religions:
Christian 72%, Badimo 6%, none
21% (2001)
Literacy rate:
80% (2003 est.)
Economic summary:
GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $16.48
billion; per capita $10,000. Real growth rate:
3.3%. Inflation: 8.3%. Unemployment: 23.8%
(2004). Arable land: 1%. Agriculture:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers,
groundnuts. Labor force: 288,400 formal sector
employees (2004); agriculture n.a., industry n.a.,
services n.a.. Industries: diamonds, copper,
nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing;
textiles. Natural resources: diamonds, copper,
nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver.
Exports: $3.68 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): diamonds,
copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles. Imports:
$3.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foodstuffs, machinery,
electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and
petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and
metal products. Major trading partners: European
Free Trade Association (EFTA), Southern African Customs
Union (SACU), Zimbabwe (2004).
Member of
Commonwealth of Nations
Communications:
Telephones: main lines in use:
142,400 (2002); mobile cellular: 435,000 (2002). Radio
broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001).
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2001).
Internet hosts: 1,920 (2003). Internet users:
60,000 (2002).
Transportation:
Railways: total: 888 km (2004).
Highways: total: 10,217 km; paved: 5,619 km;
unpaved: 4,598 km (1999). Ports and harbors: none.
Airports: 85 (2004 est.).
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